Protective lifesaving vest and buoyant collar



Dec. 22, 1942. E. c. cams ETAL 0 PROTECTIVE LIFE-$AVING VEST AND BUQYANT COLLAR Filed Feb. 17,1941

EXPANDED CELLULAR RUBBER INVENTORS [fig/a! BY 6 M; y a

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1942 s PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE LIFESAVING VEST AND BUOYANT COLLAR Edward 0. Craig, United States'Navy, and Glen W. Leyde, Arlington, Va.

Application February 17, 1941, Serial No. 319,310,

(Granted under the act of March a, 1883, a amended April so, 1921:; an o. G. 75'!) 1Clalm.

This invention relates to a protective life-sav-- ing vest and buoyantv collar and has for an object to provide a buoyant and protective vest and collar especially designed to furnish protection to the personnel of lifeboats or similar craft.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vest which both absorbs shock and vibration without hampering the movements of the wearer while in the boat, but also affords buoyancy should the wearer fall or be knocked overboard, due to an accident to the craft or otherwise and, in addition, automatically keeps the wearer's nostrils and mouth above the water so that he can continue to breathe even though he should be unconscious as a result of an accident to the craft. In addition, the vest furnishes warmth and protection against the wind, does and I4, being suitably secured around the edges thereof. Along the front lining, a separable fastener is provided for fastening the body of the vest it about the trunk of the wearer, while a pair of strap members 2| secured to the front ends of the collar section formed by the thicker interlining ll form a fastening means for holding the collar in upturned position as shown at bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front plan view of the vest per se;

Figure 2 is a side plan view of the vest shown in operative position on a wearer; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1. v

There is shown at H) the vest of this invention consisting principally of an interlining that is shock and vibration absorbent, as well as being soft, light and flexible and, in addition, is buoyant so that the vest will act as a life preserver should the wearer fall overboard for any reason whatsoever.

One example of a material that has all these desirable characteristics is expanded cellular rubber and such material is provided as an interlining II for the vest Hi having armholes l2 and hip cut-aways l3 formed therein. The

interlining ll extends upwardly to the neckline 22 in Figure 2. when the straps 2| are left unfastened, the collar wlll lie down about the shoulders as shown in Figure 1. Due to the softness and flexibility of the interllning M, the wearer is not hampered in his movements even when the collar is turned up in the position shown in Figure 2, and when the collar is fastened in this position the head of the wearer will automatlcally be kept with his nose above the water line should he accidentally fall overboard.

Other modifications and changes in the pro portions and arrangements of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the nature of the invention, within the scope of what is hereinafter claimed.

The invention described herein may be manu factured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

Having thus set forth and disclosed-the nature of this invention, what is claimed is.

A vest comprising a vest body made of a sheet of soft, flexible, lightand buoyant form-retaining material, said sheet having armholes and hip cut-aways provided therein, and a collar of similar but thicker material securedalong the neckline of the vest, said sheet oi material providing an interlining for said vest and a covering on the inner and outerfaces of said interlining, said material comprising expanded cellular rubber, a vulcanizing strip securing the expanded cellular rubber material of the body of the vest to the thicker expanded cellular rubber material of said collar, and a separable fastener secured to said outer covering for holding said vest in position on the wearer.

EDWARD C. CRAIG.

GLEN W. LEYDE. 

